Malta International Airport: Difference between revisions

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===Airport Perimeter Near Taxiway C===
===Airport Perimeter Near Taxiway C===


[[Image: 10846_wm.jpg |left|thumb|200 px|MD-83 taking taxiway C]][[Image: 10677_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|Boeing 737-700 taking off from runway 31. Photo taken at 190mm]]This spot is an excellent morning vantage-point for departing aircraft on their way to runway 31 or arrivals exiting runway 13 via taxiways C or D. Aircraft in the nearer parking bays in park 9 are also reachable. Runway 31 takeoffs can be photographed with a moderately long lens. There are cutouts for photographers at intervals in the fence so a stepladder is not necessary, though shooting takeoffs through the cutouts is difficult.
[[Image: Charlespolidano_yak-42.jpg |left|thumb|200 px|Yak-42 on taxiway C. Photo taken at 70mm.]][[Image: Charlespolidano_B738.jpg |thumb|200 px|Boeing 737-800 arrival on runway 31. Photo taken at 200mm.]]This spot is an excellent morning vantage-point for departing aircraft on their way to runway 31 or arrivals exiting runway 13 via taxiways C or D. Aircraft in the nearer parking bays in park 9 are also reachable. Runway 31 takeoffs can be photographed with a moderately long lens. There are cutouts for photographers at intervals in the fence so a stepladder is not necessary, though shooting takeoffs through the cutouts is difficult.


However, heat distortion can be a problem on hot days when shooting at any distance and to avoid it you may find yourself limited to shooting aircraft on taxiway C.
However, heat distortion can be a problem on hot days when shooting at any distance and to avoid it you may find yourself limited to shooting aircraft on taxiway C.
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===Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto===
===Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto===


[[Image: 10330_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|Airbus A320 backtracking on runway 31 at dawn (160mm)]]An elevated vantage-point for runway 31 landings and for take-offs in either direction. However, for runway 31 movements it is only just high enough to clear the airport perimeter fence and the street lights present an additional obstacle. If you have a step-ladder you would be better off shooting runway 31 take-offs and landings from next to the perimeter fence.  
[[Image: Charlespolidano_B733.jpg |thumb|200 px|Boeing 737-300 taking off at dawn (210mm).]]An elevated vantage-point for runway 31 landings and for take-offs in either direction. However, for runway 31 movements it is only just high enough to clear the airport perimeter fence and the street lights present an additional obstacle. If you have a step-ladder you would be better off shooting runway 31 take-offs and landings from next to the perimeter fence.  


'''Time of day:''' Morning only (up to around 9 am in winter).
'''Time of day:''' Morning only (up to around 9 am in winter).
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===Runway 31 Threshold===
===Runway 31 Threshold===


[[Image: Charlespolidano_B752.jpg |left|thumb|150 px|Boeing 757 over the perimeter road (40mm)]][[Image: 10966_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|MD-11F on approach]]This is an excellent location for photos of aircraft approaching runway 31 if you're content with in-the-sky shots (no terrain visible). There is a wide roadside walkway, though you have to cross to the other side of the road to get photos to avoid the streetlights. The road is beneath the level of the runway at this point so through-the-fence touchdown photos are not possible.
[[Image: Charlespolidano_B752.jpg |left|thumb|150 px|Boeing 757 over the perimeter road (40mm).]][[Image: Charlespolidano_L-1011.jpg |thumb|200 px|Lockheed TriStar on approach at sunset (250mm).]]This is an excellent location for photos of aircraft approaching runway 31 if you're content with in-the-sky shots (no terrain visible). There is a wide roadside walkway, though you have to cross to the other side of the road to get photos to avoid the streetlights. The road is beneath the level of the runway at this point so through-the-fence touchdown photos are not possible.


'''Time of day:''' You can shoot from either side of the flight path so this spot is good for the whole day, although photos will not turn out so well when the sun is at its highest. On hot days avoid shooting at long range (above say 200mm) because heat distortion will affect the photos in spite of the aircraft still being well above ground.
'''Time of day:''' You can shoot from either side of the flight path so this spot is good for the whole day, although photos will not turn out so well when the sun is at its highest. On hot days avoid shooting at long range (above say 200mm) because heat distortion will affect the photos in spite of the aircraft still being well above ground.
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===Perimeter Fence off Road to Safi===
===Perimeter Fence off Road to Safi===


[[Image: 10670_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|A330 on touchdown]]Good for runway 31 approaches with terrain visible in the photo. Large building blocks have been deposited at this site, apparently as a prelude to future works, but so far it remains accessible. It is also possible to get touchdown shots from here.  
Good for runway 31 approaches with terrain visible in the photo. Large building blocks have been deposited at this site, apparently as a prelude to future works, but so far it remains accessible. It is also possible to get touchdown shots from here.  


'''Time of day:''' Afternoon and evening (from about 9 am onward in winter).
'''Time of day:''' Afternoon and evening (from about 9 am onward in winter).
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'''Directions:''' As with the previous spot but follow the road up the hill. Near the top turn right to take an old country road leading to the village of Safi. Very soon you will come to a fork in the road. Keep right and you will soon reach the airport perimeter fence. This spot will add some 15 minutes to your journey from the terminal if you are on foot.
'''Directions:''' As with the previous spot but follow the road up the hill. Near the top turn right to take an old country road leading to the village of Safi. Very soon you will come to a fork in the road. Keep right and you will soon reach the airport perimeter fence. This spot will add some 15 minutes to your journey from the terminal if you are on foot.
{{jplink|6373234}} (By the perimeter fence on airshow arrivals day)
{{jplink|6373234}} (By the perimeter fence on airshow arrivals day)
{{jplink|5742719}} (Tu-154 touching down - 210mm)


===The Spotters' Wall (Safi side)===
===The Spotters' Wall (Safi side)===


[[Image: 11067_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|Embraer 170 departing from runway 31]]The Spotters' Wall, as it is known, is really an elevated viewing platform. Built by the Malta Aviation Society some years ago, it offers unobstructed views of runway 13/31 and it is the place from which to shoot takeoffs in either direction. With any luck the aircraft will rotate right in front of you. It is easily the best spot for photography at MLA. Its only drawback is its very popularity: it can get crowded if there is a particularly unusual movement.
[[Image: CharlesPolidano_A300.jpg |thumb|200 px|Runway 13 departure (130mm).]][[Image: CharlesPolidano_B738_2.jpg |thumb|200 px|Runway 31 rotation (135mm).]]The Spotters' Wall, as it is known, is really an elevated viewing platform. Built by the Malta Aviation Society some years ago, it offers unobstructed views of runway 13/31 and it is the place from which to shoot takeoffs in either direction. With any luck the aircraft will rotate right in front of you. It is easily the best spot for photography at MLA. Its only drawback is its very popularity: it can get crowded if there is a particularly unusual movement.


Across the road from here lies the Medavia/NCA aircraft maintenance complex. Aircraft cross the road to the complex and back via a gate in the airport perimeter just beyond the viewing platform, with road traffic being temporarily halted by barriers. Aircraft crossings are infrequent, however, and you would need to be very lucky to witness one.  
Across the road from here lies the Medavia/NCA aircraft maintenance complex. Aircraft cross the road to the complex and back via a gate in the airport perimeter just beyond the viewing platform, with road traffic being temporarily halted by barriers. Aircraft crossings are infrequent, however, and you would need to be very lucky to witness one.  
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===Runway 13 Threshold===
===Runway 13 Threshold===


[[Image: 10833_wm.jpg |left|thumb|200 px|A320 approaching runway 13]][[Image: 10699_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|Piaggio P166 in park 3]]This is a good spot for aircraft on approach to runway 13. Unlike runway 31 the road here is at the same level as the runway, but the runway threshold is impossibly far from the perimeter fence. From here you can also see park 3 where the occasional executive jet, light plane or small turboprop may be parked. Beware of heat distortion on hot days however.  
[[Image: Charlespolidano_ATR-42.jpg |left|thumb|200 px|ATR-42 approaching runway 13 (150mm).]][[Image: Charlespolidano_Gulfstream.jpg |thumb|200 px|Gulfstream V in park 3 (150mm).]]This is a good spot for aircraft on approach to runway 13. Unlike runway 31 the road here is at the same level as the runway, but the runway threshold is impossibly far from the perimeter fence. From here you can also see park 3 where the occasional executive jet, light plane or small turboprop may be parked. Beware of heat distortion on hot days however.  


'''Time of day:''' The runway 13 approach is viable for morning photography if you are prepared to take head-on shots from directly beneath the flight path, but this location really comes into its own in the afternoon. For aircraft in park 3 you need to wait for the late afternoon.
'''Time of day:''' The runway 13 approach is viable for morning photography if you are prepared to take head-on shots from directly beneath the flight path, but this location really comes into its own in the afternoon. For aircraft in park 3 you need to wait for the late afternoon and evening.


'''Directions:''' If you do not have your own transport, your best bet is bus no. 35. Ask the driver to stop you by the Express Trailers building (a large garage for commercial vehicles) on the outskirts of Luqa, at the foot of Triq Hal Qormi which runs uphill to the previously mentioned Lidl supermarket and the airport cargo centre. The Express Trailers building is at the corner of this road and Triq Hal Farrug. The runway 13 threshold is about 20 minutes walk up Triq Hal Farrug.   
'''Directions:''' If you do not have your own transport, your best bet is bus no. 35. Ask the driver to stop you by the Express Trailers building (a large garage for commercial vehicles) on the outskirts of Luqa, at the foot of Triq Hal Qormi which runs uphill to the previously mentioned Lidl supermarket and the airport cargo centre. The Express Trailers building is at the corner of this road and Triq Hal Farrug. The runway 13 threshold is about 20 minutes walk up Triq Hal Farrug.   
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===Park 4===
===Park 4===


[[Image: 10279_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|C-130 in park 4]]The occasional executive jet, civil or military transport or light plane may be parked here, though light aircraft tend to be parked far from the fence at a point where the ground dips, making them hard to photograph. There are cutouts for photography at intervals in the fence. Unless your subject is close to the fence you'll have to watch out for heat distortion and you may have to wait for the sun to start descending. Nightshots are also possible in this location.
[[Image: CharlesPolidano_C-130.jpg |left|thumb|200 px|Canadian C-130 in park 4 (60mm).]]The occasional executive jet, civil or military transport or light plane may be parked here, though light aircraft tend to be parked far from the fence at a point where the ground dips, making them hard to photograph. There are cutouts for photography at intervals in the fence. Unless your subject is close to the fence you'll have to watch out for heat distortion and you may have to wait for the sun to start descending. Nightshots are also possible in this location.


'''Time of day:''' Late afternoons, evenings and nights.
'''Time of day:''' Late afternoons, evenings and nights.
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===Runway 05 Threshold===
===Runway 05 Threshold===


[[Image: 10737_wm.jpg |thumb|200 px|Rare landing by an A319 on runway 05]]Good for approaches to runway 05. As regards traffic the same applies to this spot as to the runway 23 threshold.
[[Image: Charlespolidano_P92.jpg |thumb|200 px|Tecnam P92 approaching runway 05 (175mm).]]Good for approaches to runway 05. As regards traffic the same applies to this spot as to the runway 23 threshold.


'''Time of day:''' Virtually all day.
'''Time of day:''' Virtually all day.